[The impact of the type of anesthesia on postoperative pain after surgical correction of hallux valgus deformity].

BACKGROUND

Different kind of anesthesia are used in hallux valgus surgery e.g general and spinal anesthesia, peripheral blocks (sciatic, femoral, ankle), patient controlled analgesia (PCA), multimodal anesthesia and preemptive local anesthesia. The type of anesthesia can play a key role in postoperative pain control. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of different types of anesthesia in reduction of postoperative pain.

METHODS

In the years 2009-2015,260 hallux valgus surgeries were performed using chevron, scarf, Mitchell-Kramer or Kramer method. Depending on the kind of anesthesia, patients were assigned to one of the five groups: group A--general, group B--spinal, group C--general with local preemptive, group D--spinal with local preemptive, group E--sciatic (popliteal) block. The level of postoperative pain intensity was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) in 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 48 and 72 hours after surgery. Regardless of the type of anesthesia each patient received three doses of 1000 mg paracetamol, two doses of 100 mg ketoprofen and at the request 7.5 mg morphine sulphate intravenously. During discharge from the hospital followed a day after surgery each patient received a prescription for 325 mg paracetamol + 37.5 mg tramadol hydrochloride . All adverse effects of anesthesia and drugs were reported.

RESULTS

During the first 24 hours average pain intensity measured by VAS was increased in group A compared to others (p < 0.05). Between 8 and 24 hours, a similar relationship was observed in group B compared to C, D and E (p < 0.05). At the second and third day after surgery the differences in VAS were not statistically significant. In groups C, D and E we observed decreased use of 7.5 mg morphine sulphate on demand and 325 mg paracetamol + 37.5 mg tramadol hydrochloride. In two patients of group A and one in group B dizziness and nausea after use of 325 mg paracetamol + 37.5 mg of tramadol hydrochloride were noted. Two patients in group B and one of group D had incident of bradycardia. Three patients of group A and C had nausea and vomiting. We did not observe side effects of injected solution of local anesthetics.

CONCLUSIONS

Preemptive local anesthetic infiltration combined with general or spinal anesthesia and sciatic (popliteal) block are more effective than isolated general and spinal anesthesia in reducing the level of postoperative pain after hallux valgus surgery. They are also associated with decreased number of complications and reduction of applied analgesics.